Romanesco, or Roman Broccoli as they call it in Italy, is one of those vegetables that is just plain old fun to cook with. Its striking color and unusual shape keep things interesting, and its subtle cauliflowerish flavor is lovely. I recently took an excellent class at Cooking Classes in Rome with Chef Andrea Consoli, and we made a terrific … [Read more...]
Tuscan Kale Salad
Kale has been an illusive treat on The Big Trip. Amazingly, the kale craze that has taken over the US has not made an appearance in Europe (yet!). It is impossible to find at grocery stores and only very occasionally available at markets. Because of this, I was absolutely delighted to find hefty bunches of Tuscan Kale, also called Lucinato Kale, … [Read more...]
Early Fall Dinner Party Menu
(Photo credit StyleBlueprint.com) I was recently talking with a friend about food (surprise, surprise!) and she mentioned that she really enjoys hosting dinner parties, but never knows what to make. This … [Read more...]
Roasted Cauliflower with Caper & Dill Yogurt Sauce
Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that gets a bad rap. It ends up in dried-out chunks on veggie platters or mushy lumps in curry dishes and rarely gets to be the star of the show. This is such a missed opportunity because cauliflower is absolutely delicious and one of the healthiest options out there. This dish brings cauliflower the glory … [Read more...]
Anatolian Bulgar Stew
My cooking classes on The Big Trip just keep getting better! Last week we took a class at Cappadocia Home Cooking in the small rural town of Ayvali, Turkey. We had a terrific evening getting to know a local family, learned quite a bit about traditional cuisine, and cooked to our hearts content. The evening began with a tour of their beautiful … [Read more...]
Feta Cucumber Salad
This is one of my favorite late summer dishes. I had a version at a wedding shower years ago served with smaller cucumber chunks and corn chips for dipping. I was hooked and have since turned it into a stand-alone salad that I make almost weekly in late August and early September. It never disappoints! This year, it was a treat to make while … [Read more...]
Zucchini Mint Fritters (and Tomato Basil Fritters)
We made tomato fritters in one of my Greek cooking classes and they were outstanding - simple, whole foods ingredients and lots of flavor! Unfortunately they were also deep-fried, so I decided to try making a similar version at home that could be cooked in a pan - none of the deep-fry and all of the deliciousness, well, almost all. Zucchini … [Read more...]
Three Herb Pesto with New Potatoes and Green Beans
I'm officially obsessed with pesto! It is one of my favorite things to make, is packed with nutrients, and literally tastes good on everything. I begin the summer each year by making (and freezing) as much garlic scape pesto as possible, and then proceed to spend the summer making batches with all the other herbs I grow on my roof deck or find at … [Read more...]
Pickle Extravaganza
One of the things I miss most while on The Big Trip, is canning and preserving in my kitchen at home. I have the preservation bug! I think it is a derivative of my nesting instinct -- I always want to be harvesting and putting up food to use during the cold winter. My problem is finding time to actually use everything I preserve! Anyone want … [Read more...]
Perfect Steamed Artichokes
Artichokes have been popping up at markets all over Europe this spring. They are one of my favorite "special" vegetables, so I've been buying them whenever possible. Prices have ranged from $1 to $7 per artichoke at different markets. Artichokes have such a wonderful sweet taste and the process of eating them leaf by leaf is so much fun. They … [Read more...]